Pollution prevention

Residential Practices

Residential pollution prevention practices are household and neighborhood activities that prevent or reduce the contamination of stormwater.

Key Considerations

Photo of Eagle Valley - Woodbury Mn example of narrow street

Residential pollution prevention practices prevent or reduce stormwater contamination from residential sources such as yards, driveways, sidewalks, and household products.

These practices are often simple, low cost behavioral changes that improve subwatershed water quality by minimizing the introduction of pollutants including sediment, nutrients, metals, bacteria, trash, oil, and toxins.

Each of these practices are highly suitable and effective in cold climates. Table 12.PREV.1 indicates the pollutants controlled by various residential pollution prevention practices while Table 12.PREV.2 describes some of the methods used for each of these practices. See Photo Credits and References for further information

This table shows a review of residential pollution prevention practices and the extent to which they control pollutants. Source: modified from the Center for Watershed Protection.
Link to this table

Practice	Stormwater Pollutants Controlled
	Sediment	Nutrients	Metals	Bacteria	Trash	Oil	Toxins
Fertilizer and Pesticide Management	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled
Litter and Animal Waste Control	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled
Yard Waste Management	Moderately Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled
Household Hazardous Waste Control	Uncontrolled	Slightly Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled	Significantly Controlled
Alternative Product Use	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled
Better Car and Equipment Washing	Moderately Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Moderately Controlled	Moderately Controlled
Better Sidewalk and Driveway Cleaning	Significantly Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Uncontrolled	Moderately Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Slightly Controlled
Better Sidewalk and Driveway Deicing	Moderately Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Moderately Controlled
Proper Pool Discharge	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Slightly Controlled
Septic Tank Maintenance	Slightly Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Significantly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Slightly Controlled
Exposed Soil Repair	Significantly Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled
Native Landscaping	Significantly Controlled	Significantly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled
Healthy Lawns	Significantly Controlled	Moderately Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Slightly Controlled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled	Uncontrolled

We anticipate eventually including information for specific pollution prevention practices. For now, you can access the pollution prevention fact sheets from the original Stormwater Manual using the following link: File:Pollution Prevention.docx

Residential pollution prevention methods

Practice	Method	Image
Fertilizer and pesticide management	Reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizer and pesticides by practicing natural lawn care, planting native vegetation, and limiting chemical use; follow Minnesota Statutes Chapter 18C and federal regulatory requirements on fertilizer and pesticide storage and application if used.
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X
X	X	X